Results from a retrospective study demonstrate that a set of protein bio­markers found in urine can be used to predict the development of acute graft-versus-host disease in patients who undergo donor stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion.

During the study, levels of specific urine proteins were used to generate a "classi­fication factor," named aGvHD_MS17, designed to predict a pa­tient's probability of developing acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

The study's findings may allow for early detection and preemptive treat­ment of acute GVHD, a potentially fatal …

Results from a recent study indicate that collecting more stem cells prior to a myeloma patient’s first transplant may be beneficial for future trans­plants.

Specifically, relapsed patients who received a second transplant with cells that had been collected prior to their first transplant, rather than those collected following the first transplant, had a lower risk of later developing myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

MDS is a group of blood disorders marked by ineffective production of blood cells.  MDS often progresses to acute …

This one is for all of us who live in Cancerland and are waylaid by one too many individuals practicing medicine without a license.

What is it about a cancer diag­nosis that suddenly endows people around you with a degree in oncology?

I first became aware of this phenomenon when I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma almost nine years ago. Since then, I have seen it played out in count­less settings, including a myeloma support meeting.

The moment someone mentions …

Results from a retrospective study show that delaying stem cell trans­plan­ta­tion following initial therapy may result in shorter progression-free survival following transplantation compared to transplantation soon after diagnosis.

However, the results also show that the timing of transplantation does not significantly impact overall survival.

The median progression-free survival after transplantation was 28 months for those who underwent early transplantation (within 12 months of diagnosis) compared to 18 months for those who underwent delayed transplantation (more than 12 months after diagnosis).  …

I have only once gone to a support group meeting.  Earlier this year, I attended a meeting at the local Gilda's Club because I thought Beacon columnist Pat Killingsworth was going to be attending as a guest lecturer, and I was looking forward to meeting him.  Unfortunately, the calendar on the group's website was in error, and Pat had actually been there a few months before.

Most cancer patients in the United States are probably familiar with Gilda's Club, but …

A new study provides useful, if somewhat dated, insight into the efficacy and safety of Velcade combined with dexa­metha­sone to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

The retrospective study, which was carried out using data from a single center in Italy, included patients who had a median of two previous ther­a­pies.

In these patients, the combination of Velcade (bortezomib) and dexa­meth­a­sone (Decadron) had an overall response rate of 55 percent, and a complete re­sponse rate of 19 …

I recently met up with an old friend of mine for lunch.

After exchanging the usual pleasantries, he began to relate to me his current dilemma.  Due to changes in the business environment, it seems that the model that his business was based upon was quickly becoming economically non-viable.

He wasn’t complaining or pounding his fists on the table about the unfairness of the world.  He simply related to me how he had been out networking and exploring all of …